Jeff Popple reviews three new books about romance, family, and Victorian séances. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
Without Further Ado by Jessica Dettmann
Harper Collins, $32.99
Popular Australian author Jessica Dettmann produces another witty slice of escapism with Without Further Ado. Since she was 16, Willa’s touchstone has been the 1993 film Much Ado About Nothing. She is always looking for ‘The Feeling’, the stirring in her heart that she gets when watching the opening scenes. But now in her mid-30s she is still quietly holding out for romantic love while working as a romance publisher. She is thrown off course, however, when her life starts to mirror the plot of her beloved comedy. An engaging and funny book about love and life, and the power of stories.
The Redgum River Retreat by Sandie Docker
Penguin, $32.99
Sandie Docker, author of The Wattle Island Book Club and other novels, specialises in feelgood Australian stories with long titles. Her latest, The Redgum River Retreat, is set across two lines, 1945 and 2018, and revolves around three generations of women who must confront their pasts in order to heal in the present. As the women gather at a rural music retreat, old secrets and heartaches come bubbling to the surface. Combining Docker’s gift for storytelling with a rich cast of characters and interesting background material on rural Australia during World War II, The Redgum River Retreat is a delightful read.
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
HQ, $32.99
High society Victorian London was fascinated by the spiritual world, and by those who claimed the ability to speak to the dead. One of the most acclaimed spiritualists was Vaudeline D’Allaire, who was known for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims in to order to identify their killers. When the head of the exclusive London Séance Society is murdered, Vaudeline and her understudy, Lenna Wickes, go to London to help solve the mystery. Lenna, however, has an ulterior motive for accompanying the clairvoyant, and sets in motion an elaborate act of revenge. An enjoyable and entertaining read for the weekend.
